Chapter 9
There was a quick pause as the DJ changed the song and Nick and Hannah stood caught in the silence. Gaping expressions on each of their faces. “What are you doing here?” Nick asked with a sense of hesitation behind his voice. Hannah’s eyes wandered around too shocked to focus on him and thousands of replies raced through her brain. Unable to move, unable to speak, she stared at him fighting back the urge to just belt out of the room.
“I…I,” she stopped and widened her eyes to erase some of the building tears, “I’m here on an assignment.”
“An assignment for what?” he asked. His eyes stared into her, examining her every inch. He had thought about a night like this, a chance encounter as they were reunited. He had done everything in his power to avoid it but he couldn’t run from the reality of their reunion. He couldn’t escape her.
“People magazine,” she mumbled, a touch of confidence built up inside of her as she continued, “You know that internship, the one you didn’t want me to take? Well I did, and it worked out well for me. So here I am,” she held out her arms, “Covering the release of your album.”
“I wasn’t aware that the interns wrote articles,” he said in astonishment, disbelieving what she said.
“The good ones do,” she snapped at him and ran her hand through her hair. Things between them were awkward to say the least. As if there was a building force between their bodies their stances widened apart, they were in different universes.
“Then I guess a congratulations would be in order,” he nodded raising his glass to her with a false smile before he took a sip. Wincing, he lowered his glass and the two just stared at each other, knowing they should say something but unsure what it was. “You…” he moved his glass at her thinking of something to talk about, “You cut your hair.”
“Yes, I did,” she answered. “Do you like it?” she asked figuring that was a safe question.
“I do, it looks great…but I have to say, I really loved your hair long.”
“Good,” she rubbed her hands together, “I wouldn’t want to do anything you’d find impressive. I see your hair grew out. Nice look,” she grinded her teeth together wishing that she had a drink in her hand. This wasn’t the way things were supposed to go. Sure they were going poorly as planned, but she was meant to be more composed and confident. All day long she’d stared in the mirror rehearsing quick comments that would make him feel like scum, but her mouth was far too dry to utter a single remark.
“You know, it would be a lot easier on both of us if you didn’t act so cold,” he suggested. “I mean, this is just as hard for me as it is for you.”
“Oh I’m sorry, I wouldn’t want to put you through any hardship. Forgive me, that would be your job. So I’ll be going now I suppose. I’ve had all my questions answered for the evening and now I’m ready to go beyond the world of teen pop and enjoy my stay here in Manhattan before my flight home tomorrow.” She stepped towards the door but he stopped her.
“Shouldn’t we talk more?” he questioned, “Isn’t there stuff we should discuss.”
“Is there something you want to discuss or is that you just trying to sound coherent?” Hannah asked flipply annoyed by his ignorance.
“Well, I had hoped that when I saw you again we’d be able to have a conversation, a good one. Not just this filler stuff.”
“You had hoped huh?” she bit her lip, “Well too bad. I’ve got absolutely nothing to say to you. Other than this,” she said holding her finger in the air, “I need an address to mail my check to.”
“An address, what do you mean?”
“Where do you live Nick? Or an office, anything. I told you I would reimburse you for all the money you spent on me and now that I’ve got the funds I’m ready to follow through on that. But I don’t know how to get it to you. I'd mail it to your old house but you suddenly just vanished into thin air, funny how that happens.”
“Don’t be stupid Hannah. You know you don’t have to pay me for anything.”
“Oh quite the contrary,” she yipped, “Otherwise I’d consider myself a prostitute. So in an effort to maintain a clean conscience let me know where to send the money and I’ll see that it’s taken care of.”
“A prostitute,” he yammered, “Argh, why do you have to be like this? How you were when I first met you, so…so…”
“Lose your vocabulary Nick?”
“So stubborn and self-righteous!” he yelled causing a few people to turn their heads.
The words stabbed into her and she tightened the grip on her purse and notes, “Fuck you,” she said brushing past him and walking towards the door.
“Who the hell do you think you are?” a woman snatched her shoulder and spun her around. “Look honey, if you’re mad because he won’t sleep with you get over it cause you’re dreaming.” A tall blond woman sneared at her with her arm on Nick’s shoulder, showing ownership. She was the same woman Hannah had caught him laughing with after she arrived at the party.
“Excuse me?” she asked clarifying that she’d heard correctly.
“Get your head out of the clouds. Pigs fly when you get to spend an evening with this man,” she smirked.
“I don’t want your MAN,” she replied completely stunned and disgusted by the flashy girl.
“Oh riight, and I’m supposed to believe that. Who are you anyway?” the girl asked.
“I work for People magazine, I’m here to do an interview. I assure you, just an interview.” It infuriated Hannah that Nick just stood there as his latest girlfriend badgered her but what did she expect? Did she honestly think that he’d do the right thing and tell his toy that she had entirely the wrong idea?
“Ha, a journalist that wants to get some hands on intimate interviews I bet,” the woman laughed. “Honey, look at you! You’re a joke. Nick Carter would rather die before ever going to bed with a girl like you so I suggest you just keep on walking out that door and find yourself some cab driver to fulfill your needs, cause that’s all your worth.”
Regretfully the girl’s words hurt. Hannah fought to contain herself and not completely break down. She looked at Nick and she could tell he wanted to step in, say something to his blond but he didn’t. ‘I have to be confident, I have to stand up for myself,’ Hannah scolded. Out of no where the room seemed to get a lot smaller and the temperature kept rising. Pressure built as she noticed a group of people staring at her. Like a deer caught in head lights she panicked. ‘I can’t do this,’ she gripped her wrist. Her nails dug into her skin, but she couldn’t feel the pain. Her heart raced, her head spun, and her knees weakened. “Back off!” she gnarled. “Believe me, I don’t want your pathetic ass hole of a date. Been there…fucked that!” she yelled surprised at her abrasiveness.
Nick’s eyes widened as he took hold of the gasping woman’s arm, drawing her back towards him. Neither he nor Hannah could believe the words that flew out of her mouth and it was then that he noticed the hurt in her eyes and he regretted ever putting her in this position. He had thrown her to the bulls.
“What?!” the woman screamed, “You better watch yourself before we call that stupid magazine you work for and have you fired. The nerve! Speaking to me like that!”
“To you?” Hannah snapped, “Who the hell do you think you are? Some princess or something? You’re nothing and you have no right to tell me what to or what not to say! You’re just some random nothing that Nick picked up and brought as a date. He’ll bang you and toss you aside like the garbage you really are. Just don’t say I didn’t warn you cause I did.”
“Who is this woman?” she spewed turning to Nick who stared at her completely lost.
“She’s uhh, she’s an old girlfriend of mine.” Hannah rolled her eyes as he dismissed her as one of his many exes. Nick caught sight of the annoyed expression on her face, “We broke up when she took a job in Los Angeles because neither one of us wanted a long distance thing. Brittney, don’t talk to her like that anymore. She’s much more important to me than you’ll ever be and it’s not your place.”
Hannah’s jaw dropped open as she heard him defend her. She wanted to believe that he still cared for her but decided that she should consider it nothing more than him putting his fling for the evening back in line. Last thing he wanted was to cause any trouble with the woman who was going to give him his nightly fix. Concluding that there was no need to stand there Hannah pulled herself together and muttered a simple good-bye. Stepping aside she walked away from him unaware of his stares.
Not quite ready to leave the party Hannah stomped up the stairs and onto the roof. The crisp November air chocked her as she stepped out into the moonlight without a coat and she hugged her arms tightly around her. Below the streets of New York were filled with cars and the city lights were filled the skyline; picture perfect. “This is a disaster,” she told herself looking up at the clouded sky.
“What’s a disaster?” AJ asked from no where.
Startled that she wasn’t alone she put her hand to her chest, “Phew, I didn’t know anyone else was out here,” she said.
“Sorry about that,” AJ flipped his cigarette over the edge, “Came out for a smoke. What’s the matter?” he asked.
“Everything, everything’s the matter,” she sighed taking a seat on a bench. “Have you ever played a moment over and over in your head, rehearsed it so nothing would go wrong, but everything went wrong anyway?” she asked as he slipped his jacket around her shoulders.
“Everyday,” he laughed, “But yea in all seriousness, that happens all the time. I take it you ran into Nick?”
“That obvious huh?” she groaned rocking back and forth in the cold as her voice quivered. “I don’t know what I expected, but it wasn’t this. I knew that he wouldn't just wrap me in his arms and tell me that he loved me. I don’t think I even want that, but he treated me like a stranger. And his date, oh his date, what a bitch.”
“Yea, that Brittney girl. I met her back at the hotel and she seems like a real piece of work. Do you know she’s a stripper? Works at Scores.”
“Lovely, I’m sure that’s a fine line of work. You know, to set the record straight, it wasn’t me that left Nick. He left me, actually he just shut me out but whatever, however you want to put it.”
“Yea,” he sighed looking at her, “I knew that. At some point or another we all heard those messages you’d leave him. He’d tell us that he would call you back in private but I knew he never did. And when we went to LA,” he yawned a little, “When we went to LA he never wanted to see you or anything. It was obvious. I’m sorry though, I shouldn’t have let Nick come between us like that.”
“It’s ok, no biggy. I probably would have lost it completely if I knew he was in town and not contacting me. I thought he was in Sweden the whole time until not too long ago. I had lunch with Jane and I figured it out.”
“Yup, what an ass hole, huh?”
“Yea,” she sighed, “So how about you? Is Amanda here tonight? You know I’ve yet to meet her since she didn’t come to the Bahamas that time and I couldn’t make it to Kevin’s wedding since my mom was in the hospital.”
“Actually she and I are through. She left me,” he replied biting his lip.
“Aww gosh AJ, I’m sorry. I had no idea.”
“It’s alright. That stuff happens, don’t have to convince you of that,” he chuckled, trying to make her feel better.
“Relationships suck, they really do.”
“Amen to that. Hey, I didn’t get to congratulate you properly in there. Your job at People…that’s really fabulous. I bet that’s exciting.”
“Oh it has its perks,” she gleamed. “Then again I think you guys are under the wrong impression. This is my first article, ever.”
“You’re kidding?” he asked, “Aww man, that’s gotta suck. Your first big job and it’s covering your ex-boyfriend? Man, talk about nightmare.”
“Exactly, my boss didn’t understand why I turned it down at first. She convinced me to take it but geez, I’ve been ready to vomit ever since I got the offer.”
“Well I’m glad you took it. Don’t let Nick stand in the way of your dreams.”
“Oh I won’t. Didn’t before and I’m not about to start now. Don’t you have to get back down there? I’m sure people are wondering where you went.”
“Yea probably,” he rolled his eyes. “As much fun as these things are, I can’t stand them. But hey, we’re going to start rehearsals for our tour in LA in two weeks, we’ll definitely hook up and do something. Maybe you can give me a tour of that wonderful place you work at, I bet it’s really cool.”
“Sure, I’d love to. Here,” she took out a business card from her purse, “There’s my number. Call me when you get to town, or whenever, and we’ll do something.”
“Great,” he kissed her on the cheek. “I’ll definitely do that. Are you going back down to the party?”
“Nah, I’m going to go back to the hotel. I have an early flight to catch tomorrow.”
“Alright, you take care and I’ll get in touch with you very soon.” Hannah started to remove his jacket but he stopped her, “No you hold onto it, looks better on you anyway,” he laughed.br>
“Ok, thanks,” she smiled and gave him a hug and kiss good-bye. He left the roof and she stared down at the city below. A good sixty stories up she felt entirely separated from the world. The night hadn’t gone well, but it hadn’t gone completely bad either. “AHHH!” she pulled at her hair, “You need to stop thinking about him!” Picking up her things she called James and told him to meet her by the car, that they’d be returning to the hotel. Glad that the evening was over she briskly exited the building and anticipated her return home.
Chapter 10
Lost in the Rain Main
Homepage